Thailand forum

I'm off to Ko Lanta in a few days and from there I want to travel onwards to the Perhentian Islands in Malaysia. I'm confused about the best route to take. I want to get there as quickly as possible and have been told that going back to Krabi is the best way? Has anyone done this journey before and can advise the best means of getting there (bus all the way? Bus and train?) Also is it possible to do in one day?

Krabi takes you in the opposite direction. Trang is in the right direction and I have found travellers' services are as good in Trang as in Krabi any time.
There are plenty of minibuses per day go from Lanta to Trang. They terminate opposite the railway station - walk into the adjacent travel agency (probably KK Travel) and book a ticket to the Perhentians. Now I'm not sure if this will be a minibus ticket to Sungai Kolok on the border - or right thru.
But if you end up in Sungai Kolok, go thru to the Malaysian side and either catch a bus into Kota Bharu and then a bus to Kuala Besault (sp?), the pier for the Perhentian ferries/speedboats - OR (my preferred option - get a taxi direct to the pier (Malaysian taxis are very cheap and there may be some other travellers to share the cost).

Okay, you may find your accommodation on Lanta or a nearby small travel agent can do all this or at least get you to Sungai Kolok.

Ditto what tezza says - no need to backtrack to Krabi. Go to Trang or Had Yai for connections. Sungai Kolok is the Thai/Malay border town on the east side. You can get there by train (from Hat Yai) or mini bus. Then you'll need to bus onward to Kota Bahru, overnight there, then get transit to the ferry point for the Perhentians the next day.

I'm not a great fan of the Perhentians. The guest houses/hotels have a captive audience and don't they know it and this ruined it for me. As you can tell I was left with a very bad taste in my mouth :(
I personally wouldn't bother if you're only going for a few days, maybe not worth the effort.

Anyway, everyone has their own story to tell, that's mine. I hope you enjoy your trip.

Sparts -- what in particular rubbed you the wrong way? It is true that you're pretty much a slave to your hotel while you're there -- their laundry, their boat tour, their restaurant. The food was mediocre and overpriced, but the water is crystal clear and full of hawksbill sea turtles!

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